Cairo- In one of the pillars of a large commercial complex in Cairo, where Ramadan cartons of various sizes are stacked, two women stopped examining the contents of each carton with great care, and comparing prices while checking the smallest details.
Their looks were not the usual views of the donors, but rather the lizards of houses eager to each penny. They were inconsistent with the extent of the abundance in each carton, not to distribute it to the needy, but rather to store it in their homes, as if the high cost of this year had turned the scales.
The “Ramadan carton” or “Ramadan bag” initiatives in Egypt face an unprecedented crisis, as the cost of one carton jumped by more than 100%, which led to a clear decline in its components and in its distribution to poor families.
In light of the high rates of inflation and the decline in the value of the local currency since the last float in March 2024, the changes in the “Ramadan carton” reflect a deep economic crisis that threatens the spirit of the Holy Month, at a time when the need for social solidarity is intensified.
The symbolism of “Ramadan bag” is threatened
In conjunction with the decision of the Central Bank of Egypt to liberalize the pound exchange rate from about 31 pounds to 51 pounds per dollar, with a decline of about 60%, the interest jumped 6%at once between 27.25%and 28.25%, and inflation rose to more than 33%.
The “Ramadan carton” is a form of social solidarity that the Egyptians used to and imitated annually, as they are distributed to needy families during the blessed month, in the largest Arab country in terms of population with more than 107 million people.
“Ramadan carton” tries to keep its symbolism in light of its decline in its components and high prices, and usually contains some basic foodstuffs such as rice, oil, sugar and pasta, in addition to some other materials such as dates, beans, tea and sauce.
The economic conditions the country is going through increased the need for more than 30 million Egyptian citizens below the poverty line, according to the latest edition of the Central Agency for Mobilization and Statistics to discuss income and annual spending in 2019-2020.
The poverty rate reached 29.7%, but since that date the device has not published any new version, as it was supposed to be issued at the end of each two years, while the estimates of the agency’s advisor, Heba Al-Laithi, indicate that the poverty rate increased to 35.7% in 2022-2023.
And some expectations suggest this percentage increased since the Egyptian government moved the pound exchange rate 4 times since February 2022, in conjunction with the high rates of inflation to unprecedented records.
The effect of the crisis on charities
The impact of the economic crisis was not limited to the prices and components of “Ramadan cartons”, but rather extended to the decline in the numbers of cartons distributed to the poor throughout the country by more than 30%, according to local newspapers and sites.
An official in the National Development Action Alliance (the largest alliance of charitable organizations and associations in Egypt under the supervision of the state) revealed that the coalition plan during the month of Ramadan includes the distribution of more than 4.5 million cartons, to meet the needs of families of basic foodstuffs.
Hatem Metwally, Vice President of the Technical Secretariat of the Alliance, said in press statements that the coalition is working to meet the needs of citizens, achieve social solidarity, and enhance the umbrella of community protection during the holy month.
Although there are no accurate official statistics for the numbers of cartons distributed by charities or the same coalition, estimates indicate that this number is less than 33% than the distribution of 6 million food cartons in Ramadan 2023.
“Ramadan carton” alternatives
The President of the Planet of Munir Development, Mamdouh Kawkab, revealed “a clear decline in the work of the association during the month of Ramadan, in contrast to each year, due to reasons related to the high prices of all food commodities on the one hand, and the decline in the capabilities of Egyptians to donate on the other hand.”
He explained, in his interview with Al -Jazeera Net, that the high prices were reflected in the components of good cartons and made them smaller or more expensive and less in number in both cases, which of course affects the map of Ramadan portfolios and thus became sufficient for less days than usual.
Kawkab, whose association is working in Sohag Governorate in Upper Egypt, which is one of the poorest Egyptian governorates, pointed out that due to the decline in the number of donors and the decrease in donations, he decided to distribute aid in cash, but he pointed out that the work of the National Alliance of National Action has become the most capable of providing aid.
Change the strategy of donors
“The strategy of the donors in preparing the Ramadan bag has changed in light of the high prices of food commodities under the weight of the pound’s decrease, the decline in the value of entry and the increase in inflation rates,” said Mahmoud Al -Asqalani, head of the “Citizens Against Al -Tazua” Association.
He explained, in statements to Al -Jazeera Net, that attention has become more focused on quality than quantity, such as choosing basic commodities such as oil, rice, pasta and sauce, and the replacement of Yamish, the dear Ramadan and the choice of the cheapest dates, indicating that the donors are able to adapt to price changes.
Al -Asqalani also saw that the spirit of giving in the month of Ramadan will not be greatly affected by the high rates of inflation. However, he pointed out that the economic crisis had caused a defect in the social composition, which prompted some middle -class members to resort to the purchase of Ramadan cartons for personal use as a kind of savings.
